Dear AFOMFT, My 16 month old just started "drawing" (aka scribbling with pencils and crayons) and I can't seem to part with any of her works of art. My fridge is now covered in them - any tips on how to display them in a more attractive manner?
Gabrielle and Alaina have just discovered the joy of art, too, Maggie (when they're not trying to eat the crayons or shoving them in their ears, that is) and like you, I've started a collection of their masterpieces and would love to show them off. Here are a few easy - and inexpensive - ways to create your own family exhibit.
Suzanne from Just Another Hang Up did just that. She took a bunch of frames she found on clearance and some she had laying around the house:
Spray painted them gold and added burlap covered cork boards where the photos would go:
And hung them on the wall with a vinyl wall decal designating their family fine art gallery:
Looks terrific, right? But it's even more wonderful after the art is added:
Your child will be honored to have their handiwork presented in such an important way! The "formal" frames make this display work in spaces other than playrooms, and using cork boards is a great way to ensure that you switch out the featured pieces on a regular basis. Fabulous!
Another fun way to show off your child's art is with a fun upcycled Magnetic Board, like this one from Eva at Handmade Beginnings.
And it's so simple to make! Take a few lids from concentrated juice cans.
Lay them out in the shape you want to create for your boards - you can spell out art like Eva did, your child's name or just make a fun shape, like this flower - and cut out a piece of cardboard the size of your design.
Next, trace the design onto the cardboard and cut it out.
Glue the can tops onto the cardboard:
And decorate the lids by painting them:
Or decoupaging them with scrapbook paper:
Voila - instant magnetic art display! This would be a great project to do with your kids, too, making it that much more special.
Speaking of projects you can do with your kids, AFOMFT reader Stephanie sent in two wonderful ways to use your kid's artwork in new and interesting ways. First, she needed a new year-at-a-glance calendar so she ordered some month tags from Elle's Studio:
And then had her adorable twin girls, Sarah and Sophie, go to work.
She mounted the calendar tags on a piece of poster board and mounted that on top of the Piggies' (as they're affectionately known) artwork.
And a calendar was born!
The second idea Stephanie sent is definitely going on my list of must-dos - she took the Piggies' art and transformed it into jewelry! I kid you not. This:
Came from this!
What little girl won't love playing dress up with "jewels" she designed? For the full how to, check out Stephanie's Kid's Art Beads tutorial as well as the rest of the fantastic projects on her blog, Silly Precious Piggies. Thanks for sharing, Stephanie!
Want to peek at how other AFOMFT readers are displaying their children's works of art? Randi of Dukes' and Duchess has a gallery wall with her kids' first fingerprints and watercolors. I love how the bottom pictures have tags like you see in museums.
Angie also sent in her family's playroom gallery, which she created by attaching giant clothespins she found at Oriental Trading to the wall. She says her girls love switching out their pieces after making new ones!
Jenny D. shows off her boys' handiwork in two spots - framed on the fireplace mantel.
And on an A to Z wall in the kitchen.
Jenny's boys do a "Letter of the Day" project and hang the results on this wall. Such a great way for them to learn about the alphabet and a fun way to showcase their talent, too.
Kirsten came up with a budget-friendly and attractive way to display her twins' art - with a $5.99 curtain wire from Ikea!
You'd never know this sleek and stylish option cost so little. It blends perfectly with modern decor.
I love that you can shorten the wire to fit your space and the cute little clips make swapping out pictures easy as pie.
And last, but not least, comes Angela's playroom exhibit:
Where one wall is decorated with a quote by Picasso - "Every child is an artist" - above a clothesline with her kids' paintings.
So sweet! Creating this type of display is so easy and it could be a lot of fun to decorate the clothespins with your kids, too, like these "fancy" ones from Creature Comforts.
Maggie, I hope this round up of family art displays gives you some great ideas on what to do in your home! Be sure to send us pictures once you're done, and if any one else out there has a gallery you want to share, e-mail us at afomft@gmail.com and we may post them here on AFOMFT.
I'm sure you're all wondering where Angela got the vinyl Picasso wall quote, so let me answer that before I get a ton of e-mails. It's from Old Barn Rescue Company, a store is filled with wonderful quotes that will add a special touch to any room in your house. These would be so sweet in a girl's bedroom:
While little boys are sure to love these:
There are saying for kitchens:
Those that are perfect for the family room:
And monograms that are the sweetest around!
Old Barn Rescue Company vinyl wall decals come in more than 60 colors and you can also order them on recycled wood for a more vintage feel. There really is something in their store for everyone!
Old Barn Rescue Company has generously offered to give away one "Every Child is an Artist" wall decal to a lucky AFOMFT reader!
To enter, visit Old Barn Rescue Company and post a comment here telling me which color you'll choose for the Picasso quote if you win (this is mandatory). For additional entries:
- Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber
- "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook -- http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN
- Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does. You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.
- Visit Old Barn Rescue Company and make the store a favorite.
- Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: #Win a wonderful "Every Child is an Artist" vinyl wall graphic @AFOMFT - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
- Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did -
. You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
- Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
- Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.
Images: Just Another Hang Up, Handmade Beginnings, Silly Precious Piggies, Dukes' and Duchess, Creature Comforts Old Barn Rescue Company
No comments:
Post a Comment